Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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Following the Sword Demon's recommendation, I was appointed as a protector of the Shadowless Sect, and training began the very next day. The Sword Demon seemed intent on teaching me one-on-one in a quiet training ground, having dismissed everyone else. He stared at me intently before speaking.
"After you left, I thought it over for a few days, and it seems the order was wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"If you can't grasp your will at the limits of your stamina and qi during hellish training, it means your insight isn't all that high. Even if you tried the same method for a month, a year, or ten years, it's unlikely to work."
Insight!
Hearing that word filled me with despair. It was the most representative term symbolizing martial talent. I was sorely lacking in the instinctive inspiration for martial arts. The Sword Demon continued.
"But it's not that you can't use will at all. In fact, you're using it unconsciously."
"I'm using it?"
"The ultimate techniques and secret arts you employ—most of them couldn't be executed with human physical capabilities, no matter how much you strengthen your qi. The fact that you can use them flawlessly means you're unconsciously wrapping your body in will to reinforce it."
"Ah...!!"
"What you're lacking now is the skill to wield will consciously— that's the key."
Somehow, I understood.
I couldn't consciously shape will into techniques, but I had clearly discerned Jin So-cheong's ultimate moves during our bout. That discerning eye was likely the result of focus fused with will. The Sword Demon said.
"I think seated meditation would suit you better."
"Seated meditation?"
"Didn't your school practice seated meditation?"
I racked my brain recalling the Thunder God Style's training process and replied.
"It seems we did it very occasionally."
The Thunder God Style's core training was close to actual combat spear drills and physical conditioning. Qi cultivation was treated separately as qi practice, and full seated meditation was rarely considered proper training. My talent was so lacking that I poured everything into mastering techniques, and time was always short.
The Sword Demon chuckled as if understanding.
"You're no beginner. You're a master who's reached considerable depths in martial arts. The time for driving training through mere physical exhilaration has passed."
"How should I do seated meditation?"
"Just sit still. But that's surprisingly hard."
The Sword Demon explained that far, then picked up a wooden sword.
"I'll explain seated meditation later. First, I'll pass on the sword forms to you."
"Sword forms? You mean the Shadowless Sect's swordsmanship?"
Sword forms referred to the full set of basic stances in swordsmanship. In other words, learn the movements.
"You're a protector of our sect now, after all."
The Sword Demon stated it as obvious. He thrust his wooden sword forward and said.
"Watch closely. This is the Shadowless Sect's signature ultimate art: the Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword."
Moments later, the Sword Demon's body moved with fluid, elegant grace. The movements were slow enough for a child to follow, yet each stance was flawless, without a hint of waste. It exuded the aura and depth of thousands—millions—of repetitions of that single sequence.
Swish...
The Sword Demon finished demonstrating the Shadowless Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship with refined poise.
"How was it?"
"I saw it clearly."
The Sword Demon burst into laughter at my answer.
"Hahaha! That's all? No other impressions?"
"Um..."
I was at a loss. He had expected something more from the demonstration.
I desperately racked my brain, recalling the countless times I'd seen his daughter, Seomun Hye, fight. Comparing her sword techniques to his in my mind, I said.
"It felt like I could see shadows."
"Yes, exactly. That's the hallmark of the Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword."
The Sword Demon replied, satisfied. I sighed inwardly in relief, thinking I'd guessed right.
"In truth, it's two martial arts. The Shadowless Swordsmanship and Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship deployed simultaneously—hence Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword."
"What? Then surely..."
"Indeed. The sword shadows you saw were actually the Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship."
"......!!"
"The opponent perceives mere sword shadows, but unbeknownst to them, the Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship strikes silently, severing their throat. That's the essence of the Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword."
I could only gape in astonishment.
Deploying two sword arts at once!
It was a concept I'd never heard or seen in my life.
As he said, block the Shadowless Sword, and the Soul-Seizing Sword hits; block the Soul-Seizing, and the Shadowless strikes. But in what I'd seen, the swordsmanship unfolded only once, with no sign of a second sequence. As I grew confused, the Sword Demon chuckled.
"Seeing is believing. Let's spar briefly."
"Yes."
Soon after, I held a wooden sword and exchanged moves with the Sword Demon. Having sparred with him many times before, I wondered what difference there could be.
But after about a dozen exchanges.
Whoosh!
"Urk!"
Out of nowhere, a Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword stance unfolded. I blocked it, but simultaneously, a strike came from an unexpected angle, hitting my shoulder. Realizing the terror of that single blow, my body shuddered.
'Heavens... In real combat, my arm would be severed!'
It was a wooden sword without sword qi— that's why I was unscathed!
At the same time, I realized that throughout my past lives, the Sword Demon had held back immensely during our spars. Even without using his Flying Sword or such, he could have beheaded me within fifty exchanges with sword alone. As I froze in shock, the Sword Demon withdrew his wooden sword and said.
"See? You read the Shadowless Swordsmanship's path, but not the hidden Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship's trajectory. Even a peak expert like you can't easily discern the feint from the real."
"......!!"
"Neither the Shadowless nor Soul-Seizing alone is overwhelmingly powerful, but integrating them with will creates this synergistic effect."
"I... I see."
Now I understood why the Sword Demon dominated the unorthodox martial world.
'If the Sword Demon seriously unleashed Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword and Flying Sword, who could withstand it?'
If it were known, perhaps—but Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword didn't seem widely recognized. The Shadowless Sect of the Eight Demonic Sects had renown, but its ultimate art was a secret. Against first-time foes, it could deliver a fatal strike inescapably— no wonder none of the Eight Demonic Lords dared challenge him.
'Wait. Could my own arts be deployed simultaneously like Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword?'
The Sword Demon read my expression sharply, as if peering into my thoughts.
"You're wondering if you could blend other sword arts like Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword."
"Urk... Sorry."
"Hah! No harm. Most who encounter Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword think the same. But blending two sword arts for maximum synergy is exceedingly difficult. It requires generations of genius practitioners researching and refining it."
Laughing heartily, the Sword Demon said.
"From today, I'll teach you the sword forms of Shadowless Soul-Seizing Sword. Spend the rest on seated meditation. I believe this is the best training method for you."
"Understood."
Now proper training begins.
Swollen with anticipation of growing stronger, I clenched my fist. Then, a thought struck me, and I said to the Sword Demon.
"Oh, right—there's something I'd like to show you..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"This."
I pulled the Book of Five Rings from my bosom and handed it to him. The Sword Demon skimmed it and muttered.
"It's a martial arts manual. Where'd you get it?"
"My brother got it from Dongyoung. But it lacks clear training methods, so he was troubled."
That was true.
The Book of Five Rings was a martial manual—some swordsmanship or internal art. But it was choppy, vague, like grasping at clouds. Practicing as written would lead straight to qi deviation and death.
"......"
Flip.
Flip.
Whether he'd heard me or not, the Sword Demon focused intently, slowly turning the pages one by one. I could only stand there blankly, watching him read.
After about half a shichen of silent reading, he closed the book.
And sighed.
"The one who wrote this is truly, truly an extraordinary master!"
"Pardon?"
"It's a fearsome martial art... But I have no confidence in mastering it."
What was this about?
I looked at him expectantly, and he explained.
"It's not Central Plains martial arts, but it's incredible. However, neither you nor I could master it."
"I don't understand. Is it that remarkable a manual?"
"Of course. Mastering the Book of Five Rings' art could let one dominate the world."
"But you can't master it?"
I voiced my doubt.
I might lack the talent, but the Sword Demon was a peerless genius and master swordsman. It made no sense that he praised it so highly yet declared it impossible. He replied.
"The art described requires dual blades—reverse dual wield, no less."
I'd heard of Incarnation Style dual wield from Mang Ryang, so I knew how dual wield was classified.
Dual wield stances divide into proper dual (left: shortsword, right: longsword) and reverse dual (left: longsword, right: shortsword), and by foot position: proper stance (lead foot on longsword side) or reverse stance (lead on shortsword side).
"Reverse dual demands immense martial talent and reflexes. The art itself assumes a once-in-a-millennium prodigy trains it in a single insight. It's an ultra-elite art admitting only those with extreme sword talent—likely fewer than two or three in the world could learn it."
"......!!"
"I've trained the sword too long to reshape my pinnacle for this. It'd mean discarding all prior arts—a gamble. That's why I can't."
So the Book of Five Rings' art demanded that?
Rejecting dullards, mediocres, gifted, even most geniuses—requiring peerless blade genius for dual wield!
The Sword Demon continued gravely.
"The issue is, I've encountered this art once before."
"Pardon?"
"The day your brother Baek Woong rescued my daughter, I clashed with some Dongyoung warrior."
He lowered his wooden sword.
"That warrior used superb reverse dual techniques. I was so impressed I wanted him as a disciple, but he was stubborn, so I killed him. This Book of Five Rings matches what he used."
"I-is that so."
The Sword Demon crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"Hmm. Dongyoung must have a reverse dual school. Elite few, probably."
He said it casually, but my head felt like it would split.
From the sudden revelation.
'This... is Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings. But then...'
For the Sword Demon to deem its author an immense master, Musashi's actual prowess was at least Lee Gwang level or higher. Yet Musashi himself was slain sparring the Sword Demon. Absurd—he authored supreme arts but died?
What happened?
I pushed aside the hypothesis forming in my mind and cautiously asked.
"Could I perhaps master the Book of Five Rings?"
"You'd likely struggle. Again, it's a merciless manual challenging only eternal prodigies. Probably a flaw from its genius author."
"Urk... I see."
"Well, worth studying. Mind if I keep it?"
Should I give the Book of Five Rings to the Sword Demon?
He might research it, advance his arts, and teach me derived techniques. But could I trust him that much? It was undoubtedly a peerless manual—handing it over risked unknowns.
As I hesitated, he gave a wry smile.
"Hm, I lack that trust yet, eh."
"Sorry."
"No matter. Consult me if needed later."
He returned the Book of Five Rings. I felt my trust in him grow from that. He could have dodged or seized it by force, but returning this burdensome treasure felt magnanimous.
'Maybe I can trust him a bit more.'
Under his guidance, I spent about three months mastering the sword forms of Shadowless and Soul-Seizing Swordsmanship. The stances and movements weren't overly difficult, so I grasped the forms before the three months ended.
Seated meditation also stabilized my mind, making me calmer. I didn't feel I'd gained will, but I sensed I was on the cusp. Per the Sword Demon, it slowly but surely awakens intent.
"At this rate, three years should suffice to master will usage."
Three years.
Long, but considering my reincarnations, not so much. And it wasn't solo—the Sword Demon guided beside me, steadily teaching will extraction. Determined to maximize my growth, I trained diligently.
That's when the urgent messenger from the Return to Heaven Alliance arrived.
"Young Lord So Woong! Hurry!"
The messenger was a Return to Heaven Alliance expert I'd seen in past lives. Life-Death Brush Gwan Jeong—barely first-class originally, but after elixirs from Mang Ryang, he'd become peak expert.
Gwan Jeong, pale from days on horseback, wiped sweat and said.
"The Return to Heaven Alliance Leader urgently requests you."
"Huh?!"
I blurted in surprise.
"Three days ago, he said all was well."
I visited Mang Ryang's Jinrang Valley via teleportation every seven days or so during Shadowless Sect training, to hear of issues. Three days prior, I'd reported my status, and he'd said focus on training—nothing amiss. Had something exploded?
Gwan Jeong replied.
"Please hurry. It's so urgent the Leader sent me."
"Hmm... Got it."
"He said the usual meeting spot."
With that, Life-Death Brush Gwan Jeong hastily left the Shadowless Sect. The Sword Demon, who'd overheard, said.
"The Return to Heaven Leader seems pressed. Go quickly."
"Sorry. Not sure when I'll return."
The Sword Demon chuckled.
"No worries. Come anytime."
"Yes..."
Flash!
I teleported outside the Shadowless Sect.
Arriving at Jinrang Valley, Mang Ryang stood ready in full attire near the main hall, as if awaiting me. Seeing me, he said.
"Baek Woong. Big trouble."
"What happened?"
His next words left me stunned.
"The White Lotus Cult Leader has forged a non-aggression pact with the Emperor."